Meg Lanning's Delhi Capitals lose to the Mumbai Indians in the WPL final

Meg Lanning's failure to lead the Delhi Capitals to victory in the Women's Premier League final for the third consecutive year marks another frustrating setback in her career. This continued inability to secure the championship underscores the challenges she faces in leading her team to ultimate success.

In the past three finals, Lanning has now been defeated twice by her old adversary, Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur. In Saturday's final, the Delhi Capitals lost to the Mumbai Indians by a narrow margin of 8 runs. This rivalry adds another layer of intrigue to their encounters on the field.

Australian players have generally performed exceptionally well in this tournament. However, the failure to successfully chase down the target of 149 runs was a significant disappointment for the Delhi Capitals' Australian trio – Lanning, Jess Jonassen, and Annabel Sutherland. They were unable to deliver their best performance at crucial moments, impacting the team's overall outcome.

At Brabourne Stadium, Lanning's team previously suffered a painful loss in the inaugural final in 2023 amidst the cheers of Mumbai fans. Lanning felt that same disappointment again when she was cleanly bowled out for 13 by England all-rounder Nat Sciver-Brunt. The venue seemed to hold a recurring theme of heartbreak for her team.

Sciver-Brunt had an outstanding tournament, scoring 30 runs off 28 balls and achieving 30 scores three times. She finished as the tournament's leading run-scorer with 523 runs and ranked fourth in the bowling charts with 12 wickets, deservedly winning the MVP award. Her all-around performance was a key factor in her team's success.

However, the 36-year-old Harmanpreet was crucial to Mumbai's victory. Despite teammates falling around her, she fearlessly scored 66 runs off 44 balls, ensuring that Mumbai, put in to bat first by Lanning, set at least a challenging target for Delhi. Her resilience and leadership were instrumental in setting the stage for their win.

Lanning stated, "We are very disappointed. We felt we had put ourselves in a good position to win, but that's the game, there are winners and losers, and unfortunately, we were on the wrong side." Her words reflected the team's frustration and acknowledgment of the unpredictable nature of the sport.

Everything seemed to be going smoothly for the Delhi team, who topped the league standings and advanced directly to the final. They had pushed Mumbai to 2-20 at the end of the powerplay phase. This strong start indicated their potential for dominance in the match.

But Harmanpreet and Sciver-Brunt rescued the Indians with an 89-run partnership, including 15 boundaries. Their combined efforts shifted the momentum and put Delhi under pressure.

Jonassen (2-26) and Sutherland (1-29) both did their part to restrict Mumbai's total, but once Lanning's 9-ball knock at the top was curtailed, one of them needed to make runs with the bat. The team needed a strong batting performance from these key players to secure the win.

New Zealand spinner Amelia Kerr, the "Purple Cap" winner for the tournament, was the leading wicket-taker with 18 wickets. She had Jonassen caught after a dummy for 13, while Sutherland was bowled for just 2 after being bamboozled by Saika Ishaque's left-arm spin. These dismissals significantly hampered Delhi's chase.

Marizanne Kapp (40 runs) and Jemimah Rodrigues (30 runs) tried to keep Delhi's hopes alive but received little support, with only Niki Prasad making a late 25 off 23 balls, but it was too late, and their score was 9-141. The lack of consistent partnerships proved to be a major downfall for the team.

Following the contribution of Australian players in the 2025 WPL, Ash Gardner, captain of the Gujarat Giants, hit the most sixes (18) of the season, while Annabel Sutherland's sprinting dive in the deep earlier against Mumbai was named catch of the tournament. These individual accolades highlighted the impact of Australian players despite the team's overall result.

But ultimately, the championship went to the only team in the tournament without any Australian players. This outcome underscores the diverse talent pool and competitive landscape of the league.